Peat vs peat-free

[Bill HH]

I am confused, I am told that compost is as nutrient rich as manure, yet I am also told that without peat compost wont germinate seeds. Where lies the truth in all this?

[Shadylane]

Seeds will germinate on anything that's consistently moist eg kitchen roll. The problem is water retention I think. I had trouble with (apparent) lack of germination when using Yorkshire Horticultural Supplies peat free. Watering was an issue I believe, either too much, uneven or incorrect watering, causing the surface to crust. New Horizon is just fine - I don't have problems at all but it does need pimping with added nutrients. There are good peat free alternatives out there, that are far from 'ineffective'. Admittedly not that many though.

[plotman]

I don't understand your comment about price, nobody is saying that peat free is (or should be) any cheaper. You are right that there are some very rubbish peat free about but there are also some excellent ones. I haven't used peat for years and have pretty much 100% germination. You need to be more organised with your watering as if you let peat free dry out then it's difficult to rehydrate but proper watering is better for the plant anyway so a skill well worth gaining. I tend to use the New Horizon stuff and there's nothing in it remotely like a conker and I find it's find for seeds or potting on. Recyling compost with added home made compost is however a good idea as it saves money and product mileage.

I didnt suggest the argument was over price. If you follow my comments its clear to understand i was refering to a poorer quality product being offered as an alternative to peat yet still at same price.
Im somewhat alarmed although amused that you feel it necessary to suggest my organization is at fault and I would benifit from learn a new skill in this field lol
Finally congratulations on achieving 100% germination. A skill that even the professionals fail to acheave.
As for peat free verse reduced peat? Contrary to your comments I think the majority of replys on this subject speak for themselves, Unless of course you feel all the rest of us should learn new skills ha ha. End of Rant )

[Alison]

I didnt suggest the argument was over price. If you follow my comments its clear to understand i was refering to a poorer quality product being offered as an alternative to peat yet still at same price.
Im somewhat alarmed although amused that you feel it necessary to suggest my organization is at fault and I would benifit from learn a new skill in this field lol
Finally congratulations on achieving 100% germination. A skill that even the professionals fail to acheave.
As for peat free verse reduced peat? Contrary to your comments I think the majority of replys on this subject speak for themselves, Unless of course you feel all the rest of us should learn new skills ha ha. End of Rant )

Hey, what? I based my price query on your comment in your earlier post that peat free was no cheaper and if that's not what you meant then I'm even more confused as to what you meant. You seem to have taken my post as a personal attack, not remotely true (maybe I was unclear too) I was simply querying some of your comments and stating that your experience is by no means the full story and totally at odds with mine. You really do not need to rob the land of peat to grow veggies. Also didn't say everything I sow germinates, just that most of my stuff does. It does. I suspect that if I was sowing at commercial levels this would decrease as I'd have less time to attend to each seed. That said my comment was in relation to your claim that germination is difficult with peat free as this is not remotely my experience if you use decent compost. I also stand by my comment that ensuring correct watering is key and worth getting right.


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[bearded bloke]

I see from the original post that this thread & it's poll has now served it's intended purpose ...

Hi Everyone,

We have just been discussing peat vs peat-free compost and were wondering, what do you use and why?

Answers may be edited and published in the February issue of Grow Your Own.

Laura

So it is locked accordingly.

[bearded bloke]

Hmmmmm,maybe Laura means the magazine going to print in February,so it's open again But can we all please remember that this is a survey with comments rather than a thread for debate

EDIT : can we ALL please stay on topic as laid out in the original post.Thank you

[veggiechicken]

Hmmmmm,maybe Laura means the magazine going to print in February,so it's open again But can we all please remember that this is a survey with comments rather than a thread for debate

The survey results were published in the February magazine.

[bearded bloke]

So it was VC,I hadn't read that far yet

For those interested the results & related article are on pages 58 & 59 of the current GYO magazine